A healthy 30-year-old non-smoker can expect to pay around £8 a month for £200,000 of level term cover over 25 years. Price rises steadily with age, so the same cover costs roughly £17 a month at 40 and about £40 a month at 50. The figures below come from real quotes we ran across our panel, with the full method set out further down.
What level term life insurance costs by age
These are monthly premiums for £200,000 of level term cover over a 25-year term, for a non-smoker in good health. Each row shows the typical (median) price plus the lowest and highest quote returned across the insurers we compared.
| Age | Male, typical | Male, range | Female, typical | Female, range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | £8.40 | £6.90 to £10.60 | £7.10 | £5.80 to £9.10 |
| 40 | £17.20 | £14.10 to £21.40 | £14.30 | £11.70 to £18.20 |
| 50 | £41.60 | £34.20 to £52.80 | £33.90 | £27.40 to £43.10 |
Figures are a standardised market scan on the stated date, for the profiles described in the method below. They are not a record of what individual customers paid, and are not a quote or a guarantee.
What affects the price you pay
Two people the same age can be quoted very different premiums. Select a factor to see how it changes your price.
What moves your premium
Age
Age is the single biggest driver. The younger you are when you take out cover, the lower the premium, and on a level policy it is locked in for the whole term. This is why buying earlier almost always costs less overall.
Whether you smoke
Smoker rates are typically far higher than non-smoker rates, often close to double for the same cover. Most insurers count vaping and other nicotine use as smoking. To qualify for non-smoker rates you usually need to have been nicotine-free for at least 12 months.
How much cover you choose
Premiums scale with the amount of cover. Doubling the sum assured will not exactly double the price, but it is the second largest lever after age.
Your health and family history
Height and weight, existing conditions, and some pre-existing family history can raise your premium or change the terms offered. Being open at application stage matters, because non-disclosure can affect a future claim.
Expert comment
The number that surprises people most is how much age alone moves the price. Locking in cover while you are young and healthy is the closest thing to a guaranteed saving in this market, because a level term premium never goes up once it is set. Just be careful not to choose on price alone. The cheapest quote and the right policy are not always the same thing.
Paul Gillooly, Founder, Surely
How we worked these figures out
Our method
On 21 June 2026 we ran 48 quotes across 8 UK insurers on our panel. We used a fixed set of applicant profiles: ages 30, 40 and 50, both male and female, all non-smokers in good health, each quoted for £200,000 of level term cover over a 25-year term. For each profile we recorded the typical (median) premium and the lowest and highest quote returned.
This is a standardised market scan designed to be repeatable, not a record of premiums paid by individual customers. Quotes reflect the stated profiles and quote date only. Your own price will depend on your full circumstances and the answers you give at application. These figures are illustrative and are not a quote, an offer, or a guarantee. We refresh this scan quarterly and date each update.
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Compare life insurance quotesFrequently asked questions
How much does life insurance cost per month in the UK?
For £200,000 of level term cover over 25 years, our scan found a healthy non-smoker pays roughly £8 a month at age 30, £17 at 40, and £40 at 50. Your own price depends on your age, whether you smoke, the amount and length of cover, and your health.
Why is my quote higher than the average shown?
The figures here are for a non-smoker in good health taking a specific amount of cover. Smoking, a higher amount of cover, a longer term, or certain health and family history factors can all raise your premium above the typical figure.
Does buying earlier really make life insurance cheaper?
Yes. Age is the biggest single driver of price, and on a level term policy your premium is fixed for the whole term. Taking cover out younger locks in a lower rate, which usually means a lower total cost over the life of the policy.
Is the price the same if I buy through Surely?
Using Surely does not increase your price. Surely is free to use, and we may receive a commission from a panel partner if you are introduced and go on to take out a policy.
Sources
- Surely quote scan, 21 June 2026. Method as set out in the section above. Illustrative figures, refreshed quarterly.
Surely is a trading name of PJG Financial Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. FRN 919697.
